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FLORIDA - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed two bills into law Monday, making Florida the first state in the nation to officially refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
The legislation, House Bill 575 and House Bill 549, requires state agencies to replace all references to the Gulf of Mexico in state laws, maps, and educational materials with the new designation.
The move follows an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump in January, calling for the name change to celebrate “American strength and heritage.”
Under the new laws, Florida schools will also need to reflect the updated terminology in textbooks and instructional content starting July 1st, 2025.
The Florida Senate confirmed passage of both bills last week, with strong support from the Republican majority.
Senator Nick DiCeglie, who sponsored one of the measures, praised the move as a patriotic step forward.
“Florida is proud to lead the way in recognizing the Gulf of America,” he said in a statement. “This is about acknowledging American exceptionalism and putting our country first.”
Maps, signage, and geographic materials used by state agencies will also be updated over time to reflect the change.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has already begun updating its materials, and major platforms such as Google Maps are reportedly considering similar adjustments.
Though Florida is currently the only state to enact the change, other GOP-led states are said to be exploring similar legislation.